Job Description

Research Geologist, IS-1350-11

Application Deadline: 29 October 2026

Department: National Air and Space Museum

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Supervisory Research Geologist

Compensation: $85,447 - $96,843 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: October 21, 2026

CLOSING DATE: October 29, 2026

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary Not to Exceed 1 year

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC

Position sensitivity and risk:

Non-sensitive (NS) and Low Risk

Open to all qualified applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW

The Smithsonian Institution (SI) is a diverse museum and research complex dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) collects, preserves, studies, and exhibits objects and materials related to the history, culture, and science of aviation, spaceflight, and the study of the universe. NASM’s Research, Collections, and Curatorial Affairs Department includes the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies (CEPS), which undertakes scientific research in the fields of terrestrial and planetary geology and geophysics.

NASM is administered as one Museum in the virtual space as well as at multiple physical locations: the National Mall building; the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia; and the Garber Facility in Suitland, Maryland. NASM provides access to the nation’s aviation and space flight history to millions of onsite visitors from around the world annually, making it one of the most visited museums in the world. In addition, NASM draws tens of millions of learners to its virtual programming.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position is responsible for conducting geological research, analysis, and mission support activities within CEPS, focusing on topics related to terrestrial and planetary science.

The Research Geologist applies professional knowledge of geology and related scientific disciplines to collect, measure, analyze, evaluate, and interpret geologic data concerning the structure, composition, evolution, and history of the Earth and other planetary bodies within the solar system. The selected candidate will develop and disseminates scientific findings through publication in peer-reviewed journals, ensuring that research methods, procedures, and conclusions meet established standards of scientific rigor and validity.

Primary research areas for this position include:

• Characterize the surface roughness of ice-related landforms (e.g., lineated valley fill, outlier ice deposits in polar regions) across Mars.
• Geomorphic and SHARAD radar analyses of layering in massive icy deposits using Mars orbiter data, particularly in the south polar layered deposits.
• Study methods to improve co-registration of crossing SHARAD tracks for increased SNR and geologic analysis.
• Characterize the volcanic stratigraphy in the lunar South Pole-Aitken basin using VNIR spectral and morphometric observations.

Research and Analysis

• The incumbent plans and executes intensive studies of the geology and geophysics of the Earth and other bodies in the solar system.
• The scope and complexity of the work require subdivision into separate phases.
• It is expected that such work represents a major advance in the field of study.
• The specific range of tasks will be set by the sources of funding, such as NASA research and analysis grants or mission science contracts.
• Duties involve wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgement to perform responsible work of considerable difficulty, requiring somewhat extended professional, scientific, or technical training and experience.
• The research consists of systematically planned, original studies based on data collected by field studies, ground-based telescopes, orbiting or flyby spacecraft, and/or surface-based spacecraft.
• Tasks to be carried out may include:

1. Use standard or customized data products from ground-based or spacecraft instruments to carry out scientific studies of the surface characteristics and evolution of solar system bodies. These studies may include but are not limited to fluvial, eolian, glacial, polar, volcanic, tectonic, and/or mass-wasting features. Some of this work may require use of Geographic Information System or other specialized software.
2. Assist in data processing of ground-based or spacecraft data for solar system bodies.
3. Carry out scientific analysis, including possible field work, of terrestrial environments that may be analogous to those being investigated on solar system bodies. Provide technical guidance and mentorship to interns or lower graded employees focused on specific projects.

Literature Review and Publication

• Stays abreast of current scientific literature relevant to her/his research topics and collaborates with scientists and scholars in associated areas of study.
• Participates in national and international conferences and meetings of professional associations to report on research findings and trends in the fields of geology and geophysics as they relate to her/his expertise in Earth and planetary science.
• Publishes scholarly papers of a descriptive, experimental, and/or theoretical nature based on research and analysis results. Publications are significant contributions of substantial scope within the Earth and planetary science field.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Education (if positive education is required) and Experience:

To qualify for this position, applicants must demonstrate experience analyzing Earth or planetary science datasets. Desired qualifications include a strong background in quantitative terrestrial or planetary geology, as well as experience utilizing geographic information systems (GIS) to analyze imagery, topographic data, and other geospatial information.

Applicants must possess either:

• A master's degree in geology or a related scientific field and at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level; or
• A Ph.D. in geology or a closely related scientific discipline.

Knowledge and experience required for this role include but are not limited to:

• Knowledge of the principles and theories of geology.
• Extensive knowledge of the geology of one or more planets or natural satellites.
• Expertise in the display and analysis of remote sensing data (e.g., use Of Geographic Information Systems software such as ArcGIS or other)
• Ability to carry out research efficiently, accurately, and with minimal supervision.
• Skill in oral and written communication for scientific talks and publications.

Work Environment

Work is in office setting, with public presentations and activities taking place in museum education facilities, museum observatory, museum exhibits, professional conferences, electronic classrooms, or other classroom settings.

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact NASM-HR@SI.EDU. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo